Lifting device for hollow blocks.



G. ATTERBURY.

LIFTING DEVICE FOR HOLLOW BLOCKS,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1910.

1 1 '7 1 ,5 8O Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

/ M QmsvE/mHrrmm/RY. M flggljaftc wmm S THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.WASHINGTON, D. c.

. TED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

" GBOSVENOR ATTERBURY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GRosvENoR A'r'rnn- BURY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city,county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifting Devices forHollow Blocks, of which the following is a full and complete disclosure.

-My invention relates particularly to lifting devices for blocks made ofcement or cementitious material, of large size, and the object of myinvention is to produce a device which, while being simple and notliable to get out of'order, will engage and lift hollow blocks withoutdamaging the blocks, even though the blocks be'not thoroughly set orhardened, and which will be to a large extent automatic 1n operatlonandrequire but little attentionfrom the operator, and operate entirely in'the interior of being in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thelower portion of the lifting device shown in .Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a plan view ofthe centering device shown in Fig.- 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of amodified lifting device with the block and centering piece in section.Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing two lifting devices, as shown in Fig.5, arranged to simultaneously lift two hollow blocks or one large blockwith two hollow spaces. The blocks and portions of the lifting mechanismare shown in section. V

Referring in detail to the modification shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,the numeral 1 designates a block to be lifted, which is hollow, and hasoppositely disposedrecesses 2 cast in its interiorwalls-at the bottom.The lifting device comprisesside members 3,

Specification of Letters Ifatent.

joined at their upper ends bya pivot 4, and connecting at their lowerends with the slldes 5 and 6. These members 5 and 6 are of substantialwidth, and in connection with right position. The links 81 serve toconnect the intermediate portions of the members 3 with the lower endofthe member 82. To the upper end of the latter there is attached thelifting chain 8, terminating at its upper end in the lifting ring -9.The chain 10 which is connected to the members 3 at their upper endbythe pivot pin 4, is for use in lowering the device into the block.When the lifting device is lifted through the chain 8, the first resultis to pull up the links 31 and thrust the side members carrying. theslides 5 and 6 outwardly, so that they will enter the recesses in thelower end of the block and act as supports for the same. When the chain10 is in use for lowerin'g the deviceinto a block, the force of gravityacting through the side members 3, and especially. through the member 32U Patented Feb. 15, 1916. Application filed March 31, 1910. Serial No.552,487. i

.ing device, adapted to support it in an up.-

closes the device so that it may be lowered 1 into the block orwithdrawn therefrom. At-

tachedto the side members 3 are spring guides 3 which aid in centeringthe lifting device particularly while it is being expandfinding devicecomprising a top plate 11 and guides l2'is arranged to slide on thelifting 'chain 8. Theobject of this centering device -.is toautomatlcally center the lower end of thelifting device when itislowered into a block, so that themembers 5 and 6 will register with'therecesses 2, and by centering the chain in the interior of the block tokeep the block steady and in a vertical position while, suspended. Inorder that this center ing device may be used with blocks having,openingsof different-sizes, the members 12 are made adjustable, byshifting the bolts 7 areconnected at theirupper ends by the links 17.These links are connected at their inner ends by the pin 18, adapted toslide vertically in the slot 19. A lowering chain more useful in thisparticular apparatus as the hooks 22 are more likelyto engage accldentalroughnesses upon the interior of the block. There is also a liftingchain 21 attached at its lower end to the pin 18. There.

is also provided a centering device the same as that describedIIZLCOHIIGCtlOIl wlth Fig. 1.

'l Jith this. arrangement, when the device is being lowered into theblock by means of chain 20, the force of gravity will cause the members14 to hang vertically, so that they pass readily into the block, butwhen the device has been lowered and the block is ready to be lifted,and the pull is on the chain 21, the lower ends of the side members 14:are thrust outwardly by the pull on the links 17, and the hooks 22 areforced into the recessesx2, and'firmly engage the block.

In Fig. 6, where the device of Fig. 5 is shownin duplicate applied tolift two blocks at the same time, or one large block having tworecesses, there is provided a spacing member 2% adapted to hold thelifting devices at a predetermined distance from each other. Thisspacing member is made in two parts connected by bolts, and its lengthmay be adjusted by shifting the bolts into the holes 26. This doublelifting device is also useful where blocks are cast with a plurality ofhollow spaces.

The lifting device shown in Fig. 5 is adjustable to operate withopenings of different size, by shifting the pins 16 to the holes 27, and"by shifting the pin 18 to the holes 29, or by making either of thesechanges. The operation of my improved lifting device is obvious from theforegoing description. In the case of that form shown in Fig. l theoperator attaches the lifting hook 30 to the ring 9 at the upper end ofthe lowering chain and the device is readily 'loweredinto' the block.The ring 9 is then disengaged and the ring 9 en" gaged, and a pull onthe lifting chain 8 opens the side members 3 and forces the slides 5 and6 into the recesses 2. The block is then lifted to its desired positionand the ring 9 is disengaged and the ring 9 engaged ,so that the liftingdevice may be withdrawn from the block. The same is true of themodification shown .in Fig. 6,

except that the hooks 23 and 23 take the place of the rings 9 and 9?,and are used alternately 1n the same manner, according to whetherthedevice is being lowered into the block or is intended'to engage andlift;

the block.

In the apparatus. shown in Fig.5 the change from lowering chain tolifting chain is accomplished bymeans of rod- 24. At

25 and 25: so thatthe change from one chain to the other may be made bysliding lieving the operator of the weight of the chains while makingthe change.

While I have described only two modifications of my invention, 1 amaware that '70 each end'of rod '24: there are formed hooks.

rod 24: over the lifting hookBQ, thus re-,

numerous other modifications may be made those skilled in the artwithout departmg from the spirit of my invention, and 11' Wish to secureprotection for all such modiiications as come within the scope of myclaims.

What I claim. is: 1. A lifting device adapted for use with a hollowblocs, having.oppositely disposed recesses near its lowerfend;comprisingpivoted members, lowering means adapted' to.

maintain the lifting device in a closed position,- lifting means adaptedto open said pivoted members and cause them to enter the recesses ofsaid block, centering devicessecured to said lifting means and acentering and finding device for said lifting means in.-dependent'thereof and' adapted to engage the upper end. of the blocksubstantially as described.

2. In combination with a lifting device adapted for use with a hollowblock having oppositely disposed recesses near itsv lower end, saidlifting device being adapted.

to enter said recesses of said block, a finding device independent ofthe lifting device and adapted to engage the upper end of the block tothereby center the lifting device in the block and steady the blockduring the 4-. In combination with'a lifting" device,

adapted for use with a hollow block, havingopposit'ely disposed recessesnear its lower end, a centering and finding device independent of theliftingdevice' and comprising a top plate and guides so arranged as toautomatically center the said lifting device when it is lowered into theblocks so that the lifting device will register with the. recesses andto automaticallysteadythe block during the lifting operation 5. Incombination with a lifting device adapted for use with a hollow blockhaving top plate, whereby said centering device oppositely-disposedrecesses near its lower may be used with blocks having openings end, acentering and finding device indeof different sizes.

pendent of the lifting device and adapted GROSVENOR ATTERBURY. to guideand control the same comprising Witnesses:

a top plate and guides, the said guides be- WALTER MEAOHAM,

ing adjustable in radial recesses in said RAMSY HOGART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0.

